Property Description
Summary
Nice, clean, updated two-bedroom apartment in a building that is located in a historic town. The 56 square meters include a living room, a kitchen, a bathroom, a toilet, and two bedrooms. The building is secure, and has an elevator. There is southern and western exposure (5 new large full-length double windows), with views of the gorge and the cliffs. The apartment has good shade and airflow in the summer, and some southern exposure in the winter. It is move-in ready and includes an oven, fridge, microwave and induction cooktop. The new floors are vinyl laminate, the new windows are vinyl double-glazed, all rooms have new efficient electric radiators for heat, there are new countertops and some cabinets in the kitchen, the electric was updated in 2024, the water heater in 2025, and the bathtub and tile in 2026. The exterior was painted in 2025 and is fully paid.
Location
Amelie-les-Bains Palalda is about half an hour's drive from miles of fabulous beaches and lots of ports. The city of Perpignan is also about half an hour away and has a major hospital and airport. The two towns (Amelie-les-Bains and Palalda) sit on opposite banks of the Tech river and are surrounded by mountains with incredible drives and views. We are located in the Tech valley (the Vallespir) with dozens of small villages close by that have ancient churches, castles and the like. Between here and the coast are many celebrated wineries. The church and tower in Palalda are over a thousand years old. The area is rich in culture - Picasso lived in Ceret and Rennie McIntosh in Port Vendres. There are modern art and musics museum in Ceret, and many more in Perpignan.
Access
The 530 bus runs about once an hour (from 5:50 AM to 18:40 PM) and goes all the way from Amelie to the Gare (bus/train station) in Perpignan, stopping along the way in several towns including Ceret and Le Boulou. From Gare Perpignan, you can get to anywhere in Europe. The 530 also hooks up with a bus in Ceret that takes you to Argeles sur Mer on the coast.
Interior
The apartment is bright and sunny, with good traffic flow. It's very pleasant, and the light is wonderful.
We can leave windows open day and night for about nine months a year and nothing comes in (no skeeters!).
Exterior
The exterior has just been painted and the roof is fairly new. There is a square across the street where cultural events are sometimes staged, and the historic Roman thermal baths are a stone's throw away (zero odors!). Most of the windows face west with the mountainside across the street, so there is good summer shade. The living room window has full southern exposure and a lovely view of a gorge in the mountain with tall cliffs.
Additional Details
The property taxes are €1,502, which averages €125.17 per month. The association fees are €361.84 quarterly, so per month that's €120.61. The electric bill is budgeted at €90 a month, though it is actually a bit lower. Secure indoor parking is in a designated space at the municipal garage and that averages €31.00 a month. That is optional. It is paid up until October 2027. Without the parking and with year-round occupation and utilities, the apartment costs about €336 a month to own.